Leaf-turner.



No. 784,549. PATENTED MAR. 14, 1905. G. J. GOULTER.

LEAF TURNER.

APPLICATION FILED AUG. 8, 1904.

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gmwm W R W No. 784,549. PATENTED MAR. 1Q, 1905. G. J. GOULTBR.

LEAF TURNER.

APPLIOATION FILED AUG. 8. 1904.

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/zyfi/zsk witneooeo Z lmmm UNITED STATES Patented March 14, 1905.

PATENT OFFICE.

LEAF-TURNER.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 784,549, dated March 14, 1905.

Application filed August 8,1904. Serial No. 219,818.

To all whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, OHARL'Es J. OOULTEE, a citizen of the United States, residing in the city and county of Denver and State of Colorado, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Leaf-Turners; and 1 do del clare thefollowing to bea full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same, reference-being had to the accompanying drawings, and to the figures of reference marked thereon, which form a part of this specification.

My invention relates to improvements in leaf-turners, and is more especially adapted for use in turning the leaves of sheet-music, being adapted to facilitate this work and relieve the performer of the ordinary trouble and inconvenience attendant thereon.

My further object is to provide a device of this class which shall be simple in construction, economical in cost, reliable, durable, and efiicient in use; and to'these ends the invention consists of the features, arrangements, and combinations hereinafter described and claimed, all of which will be fully understood by reference to the accompanying drawings, in which is illustrated an embodiment thereof.

In the drawings, Figure 1 is a front elevation of my improved device. Fig. 2 is a section taken on the line 2 2, Fig. 1, looking toward the left. Fig. 8 is an enlarged sectional View taken through the spring-actuated rotary cylinders with which the leaf-turning arms are connected. the lower part of the device being shown in front elevation. Fig. 4 is a section taken on the line a t, Fig. 1, looking toward the right. Fig. 5 is a detail view, partly in section, illustrating the clamp for securing the device to the instrument or other support. Fig. 6 is a section taken through the vertically-slidable clasp mounted on the standard, parts being shown on a larger scale. Fig. '7 is a perspective view in detail of one of the spring-clamps for holding the unused leaves of the book. Fig. 8 is a detail view of the upper portion of one of the hinged parts of a leaf-turning arm. This View is obtained by looking in the direction of arrow 8 in Fig. 1. Fig. 9 is a perspective view in detail showing a modified form of supporting-plate adapted to be attached to any suitable support, its lower extremity being provided with a socket to receive the lower end of the standard of the device.

The same reference characters indicate the same parts in all the views.

Let the numeral 5 designate a suitable clamp comprising a U-shaped part 6, a thumbscrew 7, and a socket 8. The U-shaped part 6 is adapted to slip over the edge of a support 9, the latter being indicated by dotted lines. The upper extremity 10 of the thumbscre\v is provided with some soft material to prevent it from marring the article to which the device is secured. The U-shaped part 6 is also preferably provided with a lining of soft material. The standard 11 of the device is preferably composed of an upper part 12, inclined to the perpendicular, and a lower vertical part 13, adapted to enter the socket 8 of the clamping device. To the lower portion of the .part 11, just above the vertical part 13, is secured a casing 14., containing a number of rotary cylinders, which for convenience I will designate 15 and 16, though they are substantially of the same construction and arranged one above another. The casing consists of top and bottom heads 17 and 18 and an intermediate partition 19. Through these heads and the said partition is passed a bolt 20, whose upper protruding extremity is threaded to receive a nut 21, below which is located a washer 22. Located in each cylinder is a coil-spring 23. The spring of the lower cylinder has one extremity connected with the bottom head 18, while the spring of the upper cylinder has one extremity connected with the partition 19. The other extremity 2 1 of each spring engages a recess or notch 25, formed in the wall of its cylinder. The construction is such that these springs are normally under slight tension; but as the cylinder is turned in the act of nianipulating the leaf-turning arms which are connected with them to throw the leaves to be used to one side preparatory to operating the device the springs are placed under sufficient tension to readily actuate the cylinders and their leafturning arms, whereby the leaves may be I00 thrown to the opposite side or turned, as necessity requires. Each of the cylinders 15 and 16 is provided with a pair of ears or lugs 26, with which a leaf-turning arm 27 is pivotally connected or hinged, as shown at 28. To the outer extremity of each arm 27 is pivotally connected, as shown at 29, a leaf-holding arm 30, whose upper extremity is bifurcated, as shown at 31, to straddle the leaf. This part 31 is composed of two spring members 32, adapted to grasp the leaf with sufficient tension to hold it in place during the turning operation. The parts 32 bow outwardly from each other, leaving a considerable space be tween them. The upper extremities of these members engage each other, as shown at A, while above the point A are two outwardlybowed members B, whose upper extremities engage, as shown at C. By pressing the outwardly-bowed parts 32 the parts B open at the point (.1 and allow the leaf of the book on the sheet of music to be'inserted.

\Vhen the cylinders are rotated to place their springs under tension, provision is made for automatically locking them in the adjusted position, and this is accomplished by means of u pwardly-projecting rods 33 and 34. The upper extremity of the rod 33 is adapted to enter a recess 35, formed in the lower part of the cylinder .16, when the cylinder is rotated to allow the rod to enter. This rod is normally forced upwardly by means of a coilspring 36, one extremity of which engages a button 37, while the other extremity engages the base 38 of a bracket 39, having an upright part connected with the casing 11. Each of the rods 33 and 34 is double where it passes through the part 38 and may be moved downwardly suliiciently to release its cylinder by pressing downwardly on its button. Both buttons are designated 37 and both springs 36, inasmuch as they are substantially of the same construction and perform the same function. The upper extremity of the rod 33 passes tl'n'ough the bottom 18 of the casing, while the upper extremity of the rod 34: passes through the intermediate partition 19 and is bent inwardly, as shown at 41, whereby it is adapted to engage a recess 42, formed in the lower edge of the cylinder 15, when the said cylinder is rotated to bring the recess 42 into line with the upper extremity of the rod, and when this occurs the spring 36, acting on the rod 34, causes the rod to move upwardly into the said recess. It will now be evident that if the leaf-turning arms are actuated to place the cylinder-springs under tension and the rods 33 and 3% allowed to engage the cylinders and lock them in the adjusted position if either button 37 be depressed sufliciently to release the cylinder the spring of the said cylinder will act on the latter to throw the leaf-turning arm from one side to the other of the device, thus turning the leaf with which the arm is connected.

Pivotally connected with the standard 12, as shown at 43, just above the casing 11, are two arms 4%, which are angle-sha 'md in crosssection, the bottom liange 45 forming the bottom support for the book or leaves of sheetmusic with which my improved device is used. By having these arms H pivoted the device may be reduced to a small compass when not in use, whereby it may be easily carried about in a small package or in the pocket.

Slidably mounted on the upper part of the standard 12 is a spring-clamp 4-6, which is U-shaped and whose arms are 'n-ovided with registering openings through which a bar 47 passes, said bar extending at right angles to the standard. The bar passes through the clamp L6 in front of the standard. To this bar is attached a bow-shaped spring 1 8 by means of a screw or rivet -19, the extreniities of the spring being under suliicient tension when the clamp is in place on the standard that the bar 47 will be held in any desired position of vertical adjustment. This bar supports from the rear the leaves of sheet-music or the book, as the case may be. Slidably mounted on the bar 47, on opposite sides of the standard 12, are two spring-clamps 50, each of which is provided with a loop 51, having an opening52 through which the bar 47 passes. Also connected with each loop is a spring 53, which is bent outwardly and downwardly (see Figs. 1and7) to engagement with the loop and is adapted to grasp the leaves of the book of music which are not in use by the operator. The extremities 54: of these springs extend outwardly at right angles to the body of the loop in order to give a good bearing-surface whereby the leaves of the book may be held securely in place. Each clamp is slidable longitudinally on the bar 47, whereby the position of the clasps may be made to correspond with the width of the book or the length of its leaves.

Instead of the clamping device 5 for securing my improvement in place on the instrument a plate 55, having a socket 536, may be employed. This plate is provided with screwholes, whereby it may be secured to any suitable support. \Vhen in use, the part 13 of the standard will enter the socket 436 in the same manner as it enters the socket 8 when the device shown in Figs. 2 and 5 is employed.

From the foregoing descriptioi'i the use and operation of my improved device will be readily understood. Assuming that the performer is to use a book, the latter will be placed upon the arms 45, which will then be in position shown in Fig. 1. The leaves of the book to be used will be placed in the arms 31 of the device, and these leaves will all be thrown to the right, whereby the cylinders 15 and 16 are rotated to place their springs under tension. \Vhen these arms and their cylinders are properly adjusted, the spring-actuated rods 33 and 3a engage recesses 1n the respective cylinders and lock them in place under the influence of the springs 36. Then when it is desired to turn any leaf one of the buttons 37 is pressed sufficiently to release the cylinder holding the arm connected with the leaf which it is desired to turn. The action of the cylinder-spring will then throw the leafcarrying arm to the desired position in a manner that will be readily understood.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim is 1. ,In a leaf-turning device, the combination with a suitable casing, of spring-actuated cylinders carried thereby, leaf-turning arms connected with said cylinders, push-buttons supported by the casing, spring-actuated rods connected with the push-buttons and adapted to engage the cylinders and lock the latter in the desired position of adjustment, the rods with which the push-buttons are connected being vertically movable to release the said cylinders to allow the leaf-turning arms to be automatically actuated for the purpose set forth.

2. The combination with a suitable casing provided with a depending part, cylinders mounted in the casing, coil-springs located in the cylinders, one extremity of each spring being connected with the casing and the other extremity with a cylinder, leaf-turning arms connected with the cylinders,spring-actuated rods passing through thedepending part of the casing and bent upwardly,the said rods being double where they pass through the casing, the upper free extremity of each rod being provided with a push-button, coil-springs located between the depending part and the push-buttons whereby there is a tendency to force the rods upwardly, the cylinders being provided with notches adapted to receive the upper extremities of the rods when the cylinders are adjusted to place their springs under tension.

3. The combination with a suitable holding device provided with a socket, a casing provided with a part adapted to enter the said socket, rotary cylinders mounted in the casing, springs connected with said cylinders and with the casing, leaf-turning arms connected with the cylinders which are capable of independent movement, the casing being provided with a depending part, rods passing through the depending part and provided with push-buttons, springs acting on the push-buttons to throw the rods upwardly, the upper extremities of the rods entering the casing and being adapted to enter notches or recesses with which the cylinders are provided.the arrangement being such that when the cylinders are turned to place their springs under tension and to throw the leaf-turning arms in one position of adjustment, the said rods will lock the cylinders in the adjusted position until the push-buttons are pressed downwardly.

4C. The combination with a bracket adapted to be connected with a suitable support,acasing dctachably connected with the bracket, springactuated leaf-turning devices mounted in the casing, means for releasing said devices whereby the leaves may be automatically turned, a standard projecting upwardly from the leafturning devices, book-supporting arms connected with the lower part of the standard, a bar connected with the upper part of the standard and extending at right angles thereto, a clamp adjustabl y mounted on the standard and carrying the said bar, and spring clamping devices connected with the bar and adjustable longitudinally thereon for holding the leaves of the book not in use.

5. In a leaf-turning device, the combination with a suitable support, of leaf-turning devices connected with said support, a standard extending upwardly from the leaf-turning devices, and book-holding means connected with the standard and comprising parts forming a support for the lower edge of the book and another part forming a support for the upper portion of the book, the last-named part consisting ofa bar provided with a springretained clamp engaging the standard whereby the bar is vertically movable on the standard, the tension of the spring being such as to normally retain the bar in the adjusted position but yielding readily to pressure either upward or downward, the said bar extending at right angles to the standard and provided with spring clamping devices connected with the bar on opposite sides of the standard and longitudinally adjustable on the bar for holding the leaves of the book not in use.

In testimony whereof I aifix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

CHARLES J. GOULTER.

Witnesses:

DENA NELSON, A. J. OBRIuN. 

